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A sweet and sour cake, vanilla cream and plums, combined with a nutty, not too sweet crust – a rich and delicious dessert!!

Plum Topping:
100 grams of pitted and halved plums
1 tsp of ground Ceylon cinnamon
A little bit of water

1. Gently simmer the topping over low heat until soft and well combined.
2. Set aside to cool

Crumble:

200 ml almonds
200 ml oat flour
1 tablespoon date paste (made by softening 1 date with a bit of water, then mixing using a handheld blender or mini-prep)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Salt
1-2 tablespoons of water if the dough isn’t moist enough (but you don’t want it to be wet – just moist!)

1. Crumble the almonds and oat flour in a blender
2. Add remaining ingredients in blender and process until a crumbly dough
3. Spread on baking sheet in crumbles and dry in oven at 100 C for 25 minutes

1. Soak the cashews in water for 3-4 hours, rinse
2. Blend all ingredients, except the oil, until smooth
3. Add the oil last, this will thicken the cream, but do not over blend
4. Refrigerate to thicken.

Assembly:

1. Press the crumble into a mold
2. Spread the cream on top
3. Finish with a layer of plum topping

Just two simple salads, but the dressings really make them stand out. Nothing exceptional about them though, quick and easy to make (you probably have made something similar before) but I still wanted to share them as a reminder how a hint of sweetness really can make a world of difference to a dish.

The first is a maple dressing. The hint of maple sweetness balances nicely against the fat from the avocado and the peppery taste of the rocket salad.

1. Push the thawed raspberries through a strainer (to get rid of the seeds).
2. Mix with the other ingredients for the dressing.
3. Taste and adjust spices (raspberries varies in degree of sweetness).
4. Dress the leaves with the vinaigrette
5. Layer the salad on a plate
6. Drizzle the vinaigrette on top
7. Serve with some extra vinaigrette, salt and pepper on the side

This is one of my favourite desserts. I keep coming back to it, making small changes and enjoying it even more than before. You’ve probably seen a few different versions of this already on my blog. Make in advance and have on hand in the fridge.

It’s wonderful dessert to be enjoyed in small servings – the perfect ending to dinner.

1. Dissolve the agar agar in a little cold water.
2. Bring the coconut milk to boil. Add the agar agar and let simmer for at least 3 minutes.
3. Add the seeds from the vanilla bean and a dash of salt. Let simmer another minute.
4. Take off heat.
5. Chop the chocolate and add to the milk. Stir until dissolved.
6. Pour into small espresso cups (or similar)
7. Refrigerate 1-2 hours before serving.
8. Serve with some sprinkled coarse salt on top.

A warm, filling soup – perfect on a chilly evening with some crusty, gluten free bread (why not try the potato bread recipe? You’ll find it in the search bar).
Roasting the vegetables in the oven before adding to the soup, brings out some wonderful strong flavours. Add the pecans and coconut for some nice crunch.

1. Peel and cut the vegetables into halves even sized slices and place in a casserole dish
2. Drizzle with olive oil, vinegar, chili flakes, juice and salt.
3. Roast in oven 200 C about 40 minutes (until caramelized and tender)
4. Deglaze the oven pan with some of the above water (pour the liquid into the hot pan and stir to release the flavours that have stuck to the bottom of the pan).
5. In a saucepan, add most of the milk and water (including the deglazing liquid) with the veggies and let simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Using a handheld mixer, purée until completely smooth. If too thick, add some more liquid.
7. Taste and add more chili or juice, as needed.
8. In a dry pan, toast the pecans and coconut, add some salt.
9. Pour into soup bowls and add the pecans and coconut then drizzle balsamic vinegar, olive oil and/or chili flakes on top

1. Rinse the quinoa and simmer with water until done (10-15 minutes). Season
2. Cut the vegetables and apple into small even pieces
3. Sauté in olive oil until done
4. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice
5. In a mold, place the quinoa on the bottom, then add an equal layer of vegetables on top. Remove the mold.
6. Decorate with sprigs/fronds of fennel, radish sticks and lingonberries.

1. Remove the outer cauliflower florets and keep the stalks
2. Chop the cauliflower stalks into smaller, bite size pieces.
3. Fry the stalks in olive oil until slightly browned.
4. Mix the miso dressing and add the pan. Gently simmer for a few minutes.
5. When done, take out the stalks and reserve the dressing in the pan.
6. Toss the spinach leaves with some of the dressing.
7. Cut the walnuts into smaller pieces
8. Slice the radish into thin slices.
9. Add the stalks, walnuts and radishes.
10. Add remaining dressing.

1. Start by preparing the onion. Whisk together the vinegar, sugar and water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Place the onion slices in a jar and pour the vinegar mix on top. Cover, shake and let sit for at least 1 hour.
2. Run the parsley and oil in a blender. Let sit for a minimum of 30 minutes and remove solids with a sieve before serving (drizzle on the plate).
3. Squeeze the starchy water out of the grated potato and season. Then fry on medium heat in a little olive oil. Create thin patties, 2 per person. In the frying pan, press down and flatten the patty but do not move until one side is done (2-3 minutes). Can be made ahead of time and heated in the oven (180 C, 10 minutes) before serving (will also ensure the patty is nice and crisp).
4. Slice the mushrooms and fry over medium heat until all water has evaporated. Add the cognac and cook until it has evaporated. Add the “crème fraiche” and stir until heated through.
5. Layer the rösti, lettuce, mushroom mix, sprouts, another rösti and top with the pickled onion. Drizzle the plate with the herbed oil and add some broccoli.

* There are many ways of making your own dairy free crème fraiche, if you can’t find a good ready-made option. It is important to add lemon and nutritional yeast in small increments (while tasting) so that they don’t become overpowering.
1) Silken Tofu, blended with a dash of lemon juice and a little nutritional yeast gives the soured cream taste. For obtaining the right texture, add some almond milk.
2) Soak cashews overnight, rinse and blend with a little almond milk, lemon juice (and a small amount of nutritional yeast).

The Plum Pie may not be one of my most healthy recipes, but, oh so tasty!!!! If you prefer, you can use rhubarbs instead of plums. The vanilla sauce is a wonderful dairy free sauce that can be enjoyed on its own, or, with just plain fresh berries.

1. Oven at 225 C
2. Combine the dry goods
3. Melt the margarine (or oil) and stir into the dry goods
4. Spread with the back of a spoon into a greased pie tin
5. Place the plums on top
6. Mix the sugar with the potato/corn flour and sprinkle on top of the fruit to soak up some of the juices
7. Bake in oven until done (about 20-30 minutes)

Decoration tip:
You can use the drops of plum juice (that you most probably will end up with at the bottom of the bowl of cut up plums) and from a small spoon create little juice droplets in the sauce. “Cut through” the droplets with a sharp knife as to create little hearts. See photo below.
(I had a lot of juice as I used previously frozen, from my fall harvest, cut up plums)

1. Oven at 175 C
2. Cut one zucchini and one aubergine, first in 5 mm slices then lengthwise and across to create 5 mm cubes.
3. Cut the tomato into wedges, cut out the seeds and discard. Then cut the tomato flesh into fine cubes.
4. Chop the onion finely.
5. Mix the vegetables with the oil, juice and spices.
6. Spread in wide oven proof dish.
7. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring 3-4 times during this time.
8. Slice the remaining zucchini into very thin slices using a vegetable slicer, if you have. Also, a cheese slicer can be used (or a knife, but that is a bit harder) to create a long zucchini ribbon.
9. After the 25 minutes of baking, add the zucchini ribbons on top (see photo) and bake another 10 minutes.
10. To serve: press into ring molds, drizzle with oil and chopped parsley.

A gentle vegetarian meal with a hint of sweetness. If you want more of a bite to it, add some chili flakes to the honey for the root celery. This dish has many components. Feel free to experiment with them in other recipes/combinations. The Beet Shards should be made in advance (may be kept in the freezer).

1. Run all except flax meal and sesame seeds in blender until completely smooth
2. Add the flax meal and sesame seeds and blend just until combined
3. Pour thinly onto sheets and place in dehydrator, 45C, and dry until crisp. Probably overnight.
4. Brake into shards and keep in freezer until use.

1. Simmer the peas in water for 3 minutes
2. Run cooked peas in blender together with chopped mint leaves, vermouth, olive oil and a little (2-4 tablespoons) of the hot water
3. Add more water if needed
4. Push through a sieve (this step may be omitted if the puree is smooth enough)
5. Cool quickly as to not losing that strong, green colour

This is a typical fall recipe, using many of the goodies from the garden. I love the multicolored quinoa, both for the look and the texture, but, of course, any quinoa will work in this recipe. The dish is full of colours and taste. Can be served on its own, or, deliciously with some grilled halloumi cheese.

1. Cook the quinoa as per instructions on package.
2. In a frying pan, heat the oil and fry the kale. Remove.
3. Fry the leek until soft, add the plums, chili and salt.
4. Return the kale to the pan.
5. Combine the vegetables with the cooked quinoa.

1. Rinse the grated beets in cold water, combine in a bowl with the grated carrots
2. Slice the onion thinly and add to bowl.
3. Remove the outer layers of the lemon grass, crush a bit by hammering the stalk with the back of a large chef knife, chop finely and add to bowl.
4. Chop the cilantro and add
5. Add the spices.
6. Heat a generous amount of oil in a large frying pan and spread the veggie mix in a thin layer.
7. Leave to fry a few minutes over medium heat, turn and fry another few minutes.
8. Empty pan onto a layer of paper towels (to soak up some of the oil).

This starter really has it all; it’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s sour and it has crunch!!
My garden is overflowing with plums so I try to create as many varying dishes with plums as I can. This is a layered sweet potato dish that can be served with or without a spoonful of Greek yoghurt.

Serves 4

Sweet potato:
1-2 large sweet potato, peeled
Olive oil
Coarse salt

1. Heat oven to 205 C
2. Slice the sweet potato (you need 3 slices per person)
3. Coat with olive oil and sprinkle some salt on top
4. Bake in oven for about 30 minutes

• Combine all pesto ingredients in a mini prep and run until well combined but still chunky (crunchy).

Plate:
• Start by drizzling some plum mix on the plate, then layer the sweet potato, plum mix and pesto with three layers of each. Decorate the plate with some drops of juice from the plum mix and some basil leaves. Enjoy.

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The Gluten Free Gourmet

Gluten free living recipes without compromising on style or taste.
With a background in nutrition studies, chef school, bakery education and a passion for food and style, we hope to share our knowledge and ideas with anyone who wants to cook gourmet meals without gluten. We hope you will enjoy our blog!